====== FTDI RS232 to USB ======

**FTDI RS232 to USB adapter cable** \\
I thought I would pass along my experience with FTDI's RS232 to USB adapter\\
cable. I got mine from Mouser Electronics ([[http://www.mouser.com/|www.mouser.com]] part number 895-TTL-232R-5V-WE).\\
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One end is USB type A male. The other end is tinned wire.\\
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I connected pin 2 to Data Out and pin 5 to Ground. The output I saw (using\\
either hyperterm or tera term) was garbled. The problem was that RS232 wants 0\\
to -5 V and my instrument was putting out 0 to 5 V.\\
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I was able to use a utility program from FTDI\\
([[http://www.ftdichip.com/Support/Utilities.htm#FT_PROG|http://www.ftdichip.com/Support/Utilities.htm#FT_PROG]] User's Guide\\
[[http://www.ftdichip.com/Support/Documents/AppNotes/AN_124_User_Guide_For_FT_PROG.pdf|http://www.ftdichip.com/Support/Documents/AppNotes/AN_124_User_Guide_For_FT_PROG\\\
.pdf]]) to invert the expected input on that pin and every thing worked.\\
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If your nav instrument actually uses the RS422 protocol called for by the NMEA\\
standard, FTDI has a similar cable for that.\\
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The part number above is for a cable with a black, opaque USB plug. There is a\\
"BT" option that has a black cable and a transparent plug with a couple of LEDs\\
in it. Besides letting you know the thing is working, it could provide a little\\
entertainment on night watches.\\
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I like this adapter since it is a single stage, single part solution.\\
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Coleman Blake

